Ghana is a very tough opponent. I wouldn't call the US favorites in this one.

One thing the US has had a huge advantage in in the group stage was their superior fitness late in games. With the kind of athletes Ghana has on their team, I don't think that will be an advantage on Saturday.

Count me as surprised if the US makes it on to the QF. Too much talent and athleticism on the Ghana side.

Near the end of the Australia-Serbia game today, the announcers said that if Serbia could get a late goal for a tie that they would advance to the next round, instead of Ghana. What were they thinking? They couldn't have been right, could they? They both would have ended up with 4 points and Serbia would have had more goals than Ghana, but the announcers were forgetting that Ghana had already beaten Serbia 1-0. Since it would only be a 2 team tie, the first tiebreaker has to be head-to-head. Right? FIFA can't be stupid enough to not do it that way, could they?

@mfitton -- FIFA does not use head-to-head as a tie breaker in WC group play. It is: goal difference, then goals scored, then a flip of the coin. Go figure.

I just saw highlights of the ENG-SLO game. My goodness, ENG almost gave up a hatful of chances. They were luckier with their win than we were, given that we knocked on the door all day and gave ALG exactly one good look at goal.

Unbelievable. FIFA is a joke. Imagine if it had happened. Ghana beats Serbia, they both end up with 4 points but Serbia goes through because of 1 more goal? It might be exciting but it is totally unfair. A travesty of sport.

I just now spoke to a very knowledgable friend on the phone and he says you guys are wrong. Head to head first, then goal differential, then total goals, then coin flip. He says you guys are looking at the multiple team tiebreaker rule.

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Unbelievable. FIFA is a joke. Imagine if it had happened. Ghana beats Serbia, they both end up with 4 points but Serbia goes through because of 1 more goal? It might be exciting but it is totally unfair. A travesty of sport.

You're entitled to your opinion, but it is not self-evident that your preferred method is more fair. After all, goal differential takes into account a side's performance across all three matches, not just one.

1. "The moment sparked amazing scenes as the entire US squad joined in the celebrations. Even Clinton didn’t want to be left out, staying in the players’ dressing room party 45 minutes after game ended." Wonder if he ever got his team shoes.

2. Pure class, this: "Meanwhile, in the ‘mixed zone’ where the media and players mingle, tempers were running high after Algeria’s exit. In another extraordinary scene, veteran international player Rafik Saifi hit a female reporter in the face.

Apparently upset at something she had written prior to the game, he clouted the woman across the cheek without warning. She lashed out in retaliation and self defence, cutting his lip with her nails. He hurled a water bottle back at her but missed, before security guards piled in."

OWNTF - that doesnt sound surprising about the Algerians. they were a classy bunch. they were lucky to not draw multiple reds at the end for getting in the official's face, and the captain should be facing a match ban for cold cocking Dempsey.

It will be interesting to see how much our starting 11 changes 50 hours after the Algeria match. Dempsey took another brutal beating today. Does BB elect to start a well-rested Findley? What about Gooch? Since I'm ranked 75th out of 50 among the Insider Loyalists, we are much safer having BB make the personnel decisions!

so head-to-head does actually come into play, but only when two teams are tied on points, goal diff, and goals scored.

I don't quite buy this notion that Ghana are so great. They had a win, a draw and a loss...and scored just two goals, both PKs. they will have Africa behind them...but that didn't do those other teams any good.

This was the best case scenario for us. A winnable match. And then another winnable match to follow. Semis here we come!

"It might be exciting but it is totally unfair. A travesty of sport."
mfitton285

Sorry your World was shattered today by this appalling news (that has been going on for years unbeknown-est to a high moral authority like yourself). May I suggest watching a nice marathon or some other morally pure sport without the hindrances of an evil system determining advancement. You break the tape first you win, oh so simple and oh so pure.

So who starts on Saturday? I haven't seen any of Ghana's matches, but I'm hearing adjectives like young, athletic and fast to describe them. If that means speed on the flanks, then I bet we start the same back four as today. In fact I think the only change BB makes is Findley over Gomez--assuming we didn't suffer any injuries.

Thought I'd share this quote from Tony Meola -- talking about Howard's effort to recognize the opportunity for fast break:
"It led to one of the greatest results in the history of US soccer. They literally were out of the tournament, then eight or nine seconds later they were on top of the group. If you don’t like US team and the game now, then there’s something wrong with you."

@dcarmy -- you could be right. Given how shaky Gooch has been, I might want to go that route. But, BB might want Gooch's physicality and his relatively fresh legs, to start. Then, if the USA gets a lead and Ghana has to chase the game, bring in a speedier defender like Bornstein.

Since the Post has abandoned reporting DCU news during the Cup, I'll just post the news that the Richmond Kickers beat Real Maryland yesterday and advance to play DCU @George Mason next Tuesday in the USOC.

I love the World Cup and I am a huge USA soccer fan but I have really missed MLS and DC United the last two weeks. Although I plan on watching every World Cup match this weekend, I also plan on overdosing on MLS and United. Tough match in Columbus Saturday night. If they win that match then I will feel very good about the direction United is heading. Vamos United!

@fischy
Did he really say "...If you don’t like US team and the game now, then there’s something wrong with you."
or
"...If you don’t like US team and doughnuts now, then there’s something wrong with you."

OWNTF - that doesnt sound surprising about the Algerians. they were a classy bunch. they were lucky to not draw multiple reds at the end for getting in the official's face, and the captain should be facing a match ban for cold cocking Dempsey.

Posted by: VTUnited | June 23, 2010 7:46 PM | Report abuse

I couldn't believe the hits Dempsey and Altidore were taking out there.

It was reminiscent of McBride vs. Italy when they staged the original 300. Algeria probably has one of the best and classiest keepers in the game but the field players were a bunch of thugs.

The one thing Algeria and the US should agree on is that sideline ref was a joke. How many calls did he blow? A few offsides calls were completely wrong and its hard to forget the throw-in for the US 5 seconds after a US player put the ball out of bounds…right in front of the ref.